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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM 
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ICIUIH 

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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Insiitut  Canadian  de  microreproductiont  historiquat 


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I     TI  Coloured  covers/ 

I  ^  I  Couverture  de  couleur 


n 


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□  Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauree  et/ou  pelliculie 


n 


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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e. 


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n 

□  Boun 
Relie 


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Bound  with  other  material/ 
avec  d'autres  documenu 

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La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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D 


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0 


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n 


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^OX  14X  18X 

' — \ — \ — \ 1'     I  I — r- 


22X 


26  X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24  X 


28X 


22^ 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
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The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — *•  (meaning  "COIM- 
TIIMUED"),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernldre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Stre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  c!ich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nomhre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

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GOLD  FIELDS, 


QUEBEC    D18TK1(!T 


JUNE,  1864. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED   UY  E.   L.  MITCHEU..    24   CONGRESS   STREET. 

1864. 


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REPORT 


^attifctfoas  Sisliriti 


RIVIERE  DU  LOUP  AND  TRIBUTARIES, 


HENRY  YOULE  HIND,  M.  A.,  F.  R.  G.  S.  (ENG.) 


REPORT  OF  EXAMINING  COMMIHEE, 


AND  EXTRACTS  FROM  SIR  WILLIAM  LOGAN'S  REPORTS. 


BOSTON: 

E.  L.  MITCHELL,  PRINTER,  24  CONGRESS  STREET. 

1864. 


11 


KEPOKT. 


To  the  siihsrrihcrs  In  Ihi  coiiilitiniial  a^rctiiirnt.  Jilted  at  Jinnlon,  ^f'ly  6^//, 
18GI.  for  the  jiuirliusc  of  certain  IninJn  <inil  ntiiilnij  fi'jhta  sitiuitcd 
on  till-  Itiriere  <Iit  Lmip,  eiiqilijiuii  into  the  Cliandicri',  in  Loiver 
Canada. 

(JENTLKMEN  : 

Your  Comnuttco  respectfully  submit  the  follow- 
ing report : 

They  have  performed  the  duty  assigned  them  of 
visiting  the  territory  in  question.  The  tract  of  land 
under  consideration  is  situated  on  the  Riviere  du  Loup, 
in  the  township  of  Jersey  and  Liniere.  I'rom  (Quebec 
the  territory  is  distant  seventy-five  miles  over  the  Ken- 
nebec Road,  of  which  ten  miles  is  macadamized,  and 
throughout  the  whole  distance  in  excellent  order  for 
light  or  for  heavy  vehi  ics,  and  mostly  level,  passing 
through  a  well  settled  countrv  which  has  been  under 
cultivation  for  two  hundred  years.  From  the  County 
of  Somerset  and  the  boundary  line  of  the  State  of 
Maine,  this  territory  is  less  than  twelve  miles  distant. 
It  Avill  appear,  therefore,  that  this  district  is  i)laced 
within  easy  reach,  whether  from  Quebec  or  from  INIaine, 
and  can  be  visited  within  forty-eight  hours'  travel  from 
Roston,  that  it  is  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  one  of 
the  oldest  settled  portions  of  North   America,  among 


prosperous    and    well-ordered    communities;    that   the 
access  is  direct  and  easy.     In  these  respects  this  tract 
offers  singular  advantages  over  many  mining  properties, 
which,  however  intrinsically  valuable,  are   so  remotely 
placed  as  to  forbid  or  discourage  both  investigation  and 
operation.      It  should  not  be  overlooked,  also,  that  the 
soil  is  fertile,  the  growth  of  trees  and  heavy  timber  of 
various  kinds  abundant,   while  the  numerous    streams 
tributaries  to  the  Du  Loup,  the  Chaudiere,  and  through 
these  to  the  St.  Lawrence,   afford  a  water  carriage  of 
great   value   to    the    property.      A  thorough    exmina- 
tion   of  it  has   been  made,  the  results  of  which  have 
been  eminently  satisfactory.     The   details    of  explora- 
tions   and    experiments,   which    were    numerous    and 
varied,  of  the  river  bed  and  high  grounds  adjacent,  will 
be  found  in  the  reports,  written  and  verbal,   of  the 
parties  engaged. 

The  methods  and  extent  of  investigation  were  as 
follows  :  and  consisted  of  scientific  observation  and 
practical  experiment,  the  former  conducted  by  Profes- 
sor Hind,  the  latter,  by  Messrs.  J'rench,  Ward,  Tuck, 
llussell,  and  St.  John,  and  all  with  the  personal  cogni- 
zance and  co-operation  of  the  whole  Committee. 

Professor  Hind  was  selected  by  the  government  of 
Canada  in  1857,  to  accompany  the  expedition  des- 
patched by  that  government  to  survey  the  country 
between  Lake  Superior  and  the  Eed  Kiver  of  the 
North,  in  the  capacity  of  Geologist  and  Naturalist.  In 
1858,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Assinniboine  and 
Saskatchawan  Exploring  Expedition,  and  was  instructed 
to  make  a  Topographical  and  Geological  Exploratory 
Survey  of  the  country  between  the  Red  River  of  the 


Linities ;  that  the 
respects  this  tract 
nining  properties, 
;,  are   so  remotely 

investigation  and 
:ed,  also,  that  the 

heavy  timber  of 
iimerous  streams 
iere,  and  through 
water  carriage  of 
lorough  exmina- 
ts  of  whicli  liave 
tails  of  explora- 
niunerous  and 
ids  adjacent,  will 
i  verbal,  of  the 

:igation   were   as 
observation   and 
iucted  by  Profes- 
h,  Ward,  Tuck, 
e  personal  cogni- 
ammittee. 
2  government  of 
expedition   des- 
ey   the    country 
1   River   of    the 
Naturalist.     In 
^ssiuniboine  and 
id  was  instructed 
cal  Exploratory 
id  River  of  the 


North  and  the  elbow  of  the  South  Branch  of  the  Sas- 
katchawan.  His  reports  on  these  expeditions  have 
been  published  by  the  Canadian  Government,  and  also 
laid  before  the  House  of  Commons,  and  published  by 
command,  with  several  additional  maps,  both  geological 
and  topographical,  executed  by  Arrowsmith,  under  Pro- 
fessor Hind's  supervision.  These  maps  embody  all  the 
recent  discoveries  in  that  region  up  to  \b6().  ' 

Professor  Hind  has  also  published,  in  two  octavo 
volumes,  a  "  Narrative  of  the  Canadian  Red  River  Ex- 
ploring Expedition  of  18:)7,"  and  of  tLe  "  Assinniboine 
and  Saskatchawan  Exploring  Expedition  of  1858,"  illus- 
trated with  twenty  Chromoxylographs,  seventy-six  wood 
cuts,  three  maps  (topographical  and  geological),  four 
plans,  and  a  sheet  of  profiles  of  the  country  explored.^ 

In  1861  Mr.  Hind  conducted  an  exploratory  survey 
up  the  Moisie  River  to  the  table  land  of  the  Labrador 
Peninsula.  An  illustrated  description  and  narrative  of 
this  expedition^  has  been  recently  published  in  London 
in  two  volumes  octavo,  by  Longman  &  Co. 

He  is  now  engaged  in  making  a  preliminary  geologi- 
cal survey  of  the  province  of  New  Brunswick  for  the 
government  of  the  colony. 

•  These  reports  can  bo  procured  from  Eyre  &.  Spottiswoode,  Queen's 
Printers,  London  ;  or  from  P.  S.  Kinjj;,  Parliamentary  General  Book- 
seller, 34  Parliament  street,  London,  (Assinniboine  and  Saskatcha- 
wan Exploring  Expedition,  price  7s.  G(J,  sterling.) 

*^  Longman  &  Co.,  London,  price  two  guineas. 

■*"  Explorations  in  the  Interior  of  the  Labrador  Peninsula,  the 
country  of  the  Montagnais  and  Nasqucpcc  Indians,"  illustrated  with 
twelve  Chromolithographs,  twenty-four  wood  cuts,  and  two  maps. 
Price  32s  sterling;   Longman  &  Co.,  London. 


I 


^Nfc.^ 


Mr.  Russell  has  been  nine  years  in  California  em- 
ployed in  miniiif,'.  :Mr.  Tuck  is  also  an  experienced 
miner  of  California,  and  Mr.  St.  John  a  successful 
quartz  miner  of  Australia.  Messrs.  Ward  and  French 
are  members  of  your  Committee,  the  former  having  been 
engaged  also  in  mining  operations  in  California. 

Your  Committee  were  also  fortunate  enough  to  have 
an  interview,  arranged  by  appointment,  with  Sir  "Wil- 
liam Logan,  the  eminent  geologist  of  Canada,  who 
has  l)ecn  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  employed  by  the 
British  govermnent  in  the  survey  of  Canada  and  other 
portions  of  British  America,  who  expressed  to  your 
Committee  the  deliberate  opinion  that  operations  prop- 
erly conducted  upon  this  auriferous  tract  nuist  prove 
highly  remunerative.  To  his  "  Notes  on  the  Gold  of 
Eastern  Canada,"  being  a  reprint  of  various  reports  of 
the  Geological  Survey  of  Canada  from  1848  to  18(5;}, 
published  by  ])awson  Brothers,  Alontreal,  18(54,  your 
Committee  most  especially  beg  to  call  your  attention,  a 
pamphlet  which  completely  justifies  the  conclusions 
arrived  at  by  Professor  Hind. 

Your  Conmiittee,  therefore,  proceeded  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  authority  conferred  upon  them  to  close  the 
purchase  of  the  said  territory,  which  they  did  in  writing, 
subject  to  the  condition  that  the  titles  upon  examination 
prove  to  be  satisfactory  to  them,  and  that  the  laws  of 
Canada  guarantee  to  the  purchasers  all  and  every  right, 
title,  and  interest  to  f'^e  minerals  mined.  All  which 
points  have  been  submitted  to  the  consideration  ,,f 
George  Okill  Stuart,  Esq.,  of  Quebec,  a  gentleman  of 
the  highest  standing  in  the  legal  profession,  and  now, 
or  latelv.  Queen's  C^ounsel. 


ill 


i 


in  Califbrniii  em- 
)  an  experienced 
aim  a  successful 
^ard  and  French 
rnier  Imving  been 
y'aliforniu. 
I  enough  to  liavo 
lit,  with  Sir  Wil- 
of  C'anada,  wlio 
employed  by  the 
'anada  and  other 
:pressed  to  your 
operations  prop- 
ract  must  prove 
I  on  the  Gold  of 
arious  reports  of 
n  1848  to  18():}, 
real,  18(54,  your 
your  attention,  a 
the    conclusions 


In  conclusion,  your  Committee,  feeling  their  responsi- 
bility, recur  lo  the  facts  that  to  personal  examination 
they  have  added  the  most  eminent  scientific  authority, 
practical  experience,  and  legal  advice. 

LI'AERETT  SALTONSTAIJ.,  ") 
DANL.  SAIIGKNT  (JUKTI8, 

r.  c.  urooks,  ju. 

S.  L,  FRENCH,  ''  Committee. 

H.  R.  ^VARD. 
PLIXV  EJSK, 

Boston,  June  22d,  18G4. 


pd  to  avail  them- 
them  to  close  the 
?A'  did  in  writinjr, 
pon  examination 
that  the  laws  of 

and  every  riijht, 
led.  All  wbich 
consideration    «,f 

a  gentleman  of 
?ssi()u,  and  now, 


KXTKA.CT    ITROM 

"NOTES  ON  TOE  GOLD  OF  EASTERN  CANADA." 

11Y    sill    W.    I,0OAN. 
Dawtnn  Brothem,   Puhliahem,  Montreal,  1864. 


"  It  has  been  shown  that  the  washing  of  the  ground 
over  the  area  of  one  acre,  with  an  average  deptli  of  two 
feet,  equal  to  87,120  cubic  feet,  gave  in  round  numbers 
about  5,000  pennyweights  of  gold,  or  one  and  thirty- 
eight  hundredths  grains  to  the  cubic  foot,  which  is  equal 
to  one  and  three-quarters  grains  of  gold  to  the  bushel. 
Now,  according  to  Mr.  Blake,  earth  containing  one 
forty-fourth  part  of  this  amount,  or  one  twenty-fifth 
of  a  grain  of  gold,  can  be  profitably  washed  by  the 
hydraulic  method ;  while  the  Inbor  of  two  men,  with  a 
proper  jet  of  water,  suffices  to  wash  one  thousand  bush- 
els in  a  day  ;  which,  in  a  deposit  like  that  of  Riviere  du 
Loup,  would  contain  about  seventy-three  pennyweights 
of  gold.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  a  certain  portion 
of  the  finer  p  \1  dust,  which  is  collected  in  the  ordinary 
process,  would  be  lost  in  working  on  a  larger  scale.  It 
ha?  been  already  shown  that  the  gold  in  Canada  is  not 
cf  nfined  to  the  gravel  of  the  river  channels,  and  the 
idluvial  flats  ;  but  it  is  found  on  the  Metgermette  and  St. 
Francis  rivers,  at  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
above  their  beds  ;  and  although  its  proportion  were  to 
be  many  times  less  than  in  the  gravel  of  the  Riviere  du 
Loup,  these  thick  deposits,  which  extend  over  great 
areas,   might   be  profitably-  worked    by  the  hydraulic 


M 


TKRN  CANADA." 


real,  186-J, 

hing  of  the  ground 
'erage  deptli  of  two 
I  in  round  numbers 
or  one  and  thirty- 
foot,  which  is  equal 
gold  to  the  bushel, 
th  containing  one 
r  one  twenty-fifth 
3ly  washed  by  the 
)f  two  men,  with  a 
one  thousand  bush- 
!  that  of  Riviere  du 
hree  pennyweights 
at  a  certain  portion 
:ted  in  the  ordinary 

a  larger  scale.  It 
Id  in  Canada  is  not 

channels,  and  the 
letgermette  and  St. 
idred  and  fifty  feet 
proportion  were  to 
1  of  the  Riviere  du 
extend  over  great 

by  the  hydraulic 


J 


9 

method.  The  fall  in  most  of  the  tributaries  of  the 
(iM.u.licro  and  of  tiie  St.  Francis,  throughout  the  aurif. 
erous  region,  is  such  that  it  would  not  be  difficult  to 
secure  a  supply  of  water  with  a  sufficient  head,  without 
II  very  great  expenditure  in  the  construction  of  canals  ; 
and  It  nuiy  reasonably  be  expected  that  before  long  the 
«lq>osits  of  gold-bearing  earth,  which  are  so  wklely 
spread  over  southeastern  Canada,  will  be  made  econom- 
ically  available." 


^'"  '"•• '■"  •'''"''""»'"//,   Band  Sargent  (hniis.   Pa.  C.  Ihooks,  Jr 

S.  L    Frrnrl,,  Urun,  U.   W„r<l  of  Boston,   3Iuss.,   and  Pliny  FM, 
0/   P/iihihliiliin,  Pcnn. 

(JliNTr.KMEN  ; 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  accompanying  report 
on  the  luu-iferous  district  of  Canada  East,  drained  by  the 
Riyicre  du  I.oup  and  snnie  of  its  tributaries,  which  I 
visited  in  company  with  one  of  the  members  of  your 
committee,  during  the  first  and  second  weeks  of  June 
in  the  ')resent  year. 

I  have  marked  on  the  Surveyor's  map  with  a  yellow 
spot,  the  places  where  I  saw  gold  extracted  from  the 
drift  gvavvh  and  clays ;  but  I  am  of  opinion  that  the 
wh.de  of  the  drift  covering  the  area  referred  to  in  this 
report,  is  auriferous. 

T  also  send  an  ideal  sketch  of  the  valley  of  the  Riviere 
du  Loup,  to  exhibit  the  relation  of  the  upper  silurian 
clay  slates,  with  their  associated  qaavtz  veins,   to  the 
drift,  by  which  they  are  in  a  great  measure  overlaid. 
I  am,  Gentlemen, 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

n  . .  ,    ,  HENRY  YOULE  HIND 

QUEBBC,  14th  June,  1864.  niiyu. 


™^HP 


10 


CONTENTS. 


I.       OeoOHAPHICAL    FEAXt/HES, 

II.     Geological  FEAxirnEs. 

«.     Upper  Silurian  Slates. 
6.     Quartz  Veins. 

1.  The  Main  or  Older  Veins. 

2.  The  Oblique  Veins. 

3.  The  Newer  Veins. 

c.  The  Boulders  ix  the  Riveb. 

d.  The  Drift  Clays,  Gravels,  and  Sands. 

III.  The  Gold  of  the  Riviere  Du  Loup  and  its  Tributaries. 
a.     The  Metgermette. 

h.  The  River  Du  Loup. 

c.  The  Upper  Drift- 

d.  The  Metgermette  with  the  Cradle. 

e.  Cradling  on  the  Du  Loup. 

IV.  Estimate  of  the  Value  of  the  Drift. 
V.     Origin  of  the  Gold. 

VI.     The  Black  Sand. 
VII.     Conclusion. 


11 


Sands, 

)  ITS  Tbibutakies. 


DLE. 


r. 


I.     OKOGRAPHK  \\.   FEATVRES. 

The  tract  of  rountry  to  which  tho  following  report 
refers,  lies  on  the  Kiviere  du  I.oup,  u  tributary  to  he 
Chaudierc,  which  en^jties  into  the  St.  Lawrence  a  few 
miles  above  Quebec.  'I'he  Metgermette,  a  tributary  of 
the  Du  Loup,  flows  diagonally  through  all  the  lots  in 
Liniere,  although  it  is  not  so  shown  on  the  map,  which 
in  this  respect,  ns  well  ns  in  the  bends  or  windings  of 
the  JJu  Loup,  is  incorrectly  drawn.  It  enters  the  J)u 
Loup  about  the  middle  of  lot . 

Several  small  tributaries  flow  through  the  lot''  enu- 
merated, into  the  Du  Louj),  one  of  which,  crossini.'  lot 
40,  is  about  one-third  of  the  si/e  of  the  Metgcrmetro  in 
June. 

East  and  west  of  the  Du  Loup,  the  country  rises  tc  a 
plateau  in  some  places  in  the  form  of  an  escarpment 
on  tho  river,  in  others  gradually,  to  an  altitude  varying 
from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  stream.  Where  the  rise  is  abrupt,  land 
slides  disclose  occasionally  the  character  of  the  sloping 
cliffs,  which  are  seen  to  consist  of  a  very  tenacious 
bluish  clay,  holding  many  worn  fragments  of  rock  simi- 
lar to  the  upper  silurian  slates  exposed  in  the  bed  of 
the  river,  and  masses  of  unworn  slate,  showing  a  local 
origin,  also  small  boulders  and  pebbles  from  a  northern 
source  ;  which  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

The  blue  clay  may  be,  in  some  places,  fifty  feet  thick, 
but  this  occurs  only  in  the  ancient  bed  or  valley  of  the 
river,  for,  by  tracing  the  course  of  the  tributary  streams 
(a  mill  creek  on  lot  31,  for  instance),  about  two  miles 


■^mmmmi.^tmmi^. 


S 


12 

from  the  Riviere  du  Loup,  and  to  an  altitude  above  it 
exceeding  350  or  400  feet,  the  slates  are  seen  in  posi- 
tion, and  are  so  observed  in  many  parts  of  the  stream, 
some  2.5  to  30  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  drift  clays 
and  gravels. 

The  blue  clay  is  capped  by  a  yellowish  gravelly  clay, 
also  holding  numerous  fragments  of  unworn  masses  of 
slates  similar  to  the  rock  of  the  country  as  seen  in  the 
river,  as  well  as  fragments  and  small  masses  of  quartz, 
often  very  ferruginous,  easily  disintegrated,  and  similar 
in  appearance  to  tlie  quartz  veins  running  parallel  to 
the  stratification  in  the  slates  beneath. 

The  plateaux,  to  which  reference  have  been  made, 
vary  in  breadth  from  a  few  yards  to  several  hundred 
yards,  and  are  succeeded  on  the  west  by  a  gradual  rise 
to  the  summit  of  the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters 
flowing  into  the  Riviere  du  Loup  from  those  which  are 
tributary  to  the  Ohaudiere.  The  utmost  altittide  attained 
in  the  tract  of  country  under  review  does  not,  probably, 
exceed  500  feet  above  the  river ;  and  as  this  is  supposed 
to  be  about  900  feet  above  the  sea,  the  highest  point 
will  be,  approximately,  1400  feet  above  the  same  level. 

The  entire  country  on  the  west  of  the  Du  Loup  is 
densely  wooded,  and  an  excellent  bird's-eye  view  of  the 
whole  tract  can  be  obtained  from  the  summit  of  a  hill 
on  the  Kennebec  road,  about  2|  miles  due  south  of 
Ray's  house,  on  lot  74,  east  of  the  river. 

The  soil  ap[)ears  to  be  of  good  quality  wherever 
examined,  and  over  wide  areas  the  sugar  maple  is  found 
growing  in  great  abundance  and  of  large  size. 

The  Du  Loup,  at  its  summer  level,  has  an  average 


1.3 


altitude  above  it 
are  seen  in  posi- 
rts  of  the  stream, 

of  the  drift  chiys 

/ish  gravelly  clay, 
unworn  masses  of 
try  as  seen  in  the 
masses  of  quartz, 
rated,  and  similar 
inning  parallel  to 

have  been  made, 
several  hundred 
by  a  gradual  rise 
ivides  the  waters 
1  those  which  are 
t  altitude  attained 
oes  not,  probably, 
IS  this  is  supposed 
the  highest  point 
'e  the  same  level, 
the  ])u  Loup  is 
s-eye  view  of  the 
summit  of  a  hill 
les  due  south  of 
;r. 

quality   wherever 
vr  maple  is  found 
^e  size. 
,  has  an  average 


width  of  twenty-five  yards,  with  a  depth  not  exceedins 
fifteen  inches  in  the  deepest  part ;  at  the  beginning  of 
Juno  its  mean  breadth  is  about  thirty  yards,  with  a 
depth  in  the  channel  of  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  ;  in 
early  s|)riiig,  when  the  snows  melt,  it  rises  fully  five 
feet  above  its  level  in  June,  as  shown  by  the  existing 
water-marks  on  its  banks. 

The  current  is  very  rapid,  in  fact  the  river  is  a  series 
of  small  rapids,  and  its  fall  may  be  approximately 
estimated  at  twelve  feet  in  the  mile.  In  its  bed  are 
numerous  boulders ;  by  far  the  greater  number  of  these 
came  from  the  upper  silurian  slates,  reefs  of  which 
cross  the  river  occasioi.ally.  Those  boulders  which  have 
the  aspect  of  a  northern  origin,  will  be  described  in  the 
secpicl. 

The  course  of  the  Du  Loup  within  the  limits  of  the 
property  described,  is  nearly  due  north  for  a  space  of 
nine  miles  ;  and  the  distance  of  t'ne  south  boundary  of 
lot  47  in  Jersey,  the  most  southern  part,  is  about  eleven 
miles  from  the  boundary  line  by  the  Kennebec  road  to 
and  through  the  State  of  Maine. 

Mr.  Ray's  house  on  lot  74,  is  seventy-five  miles  from 
Quebec  via  the  Kennebec  road,  which  is  well  settled 
throughout  to  within  four  miles  of  the  boundary  line. 
The  settlements  on  the  du  Loup  south  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  tract  under  review,  are  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  ;  below  this  line  they  continue  on  both  sides 
of  the  du  Loup  and  Chaudierc  as  far  as  the  St.  Lawrence. 


I  1 


14 


II.     GEOLOGICAL    FEAIURES. 


TJPPXK    SILURIATf    SLATES. 


The  rocks  which  appear  in  places  within  the  limits  of 
the  tract  described,  consist  of  upper  silurian  clay  slates. 
The  strike  is  west  15°  south,  magnetic,  but  the  varia- 
tion being  16'^  45'  East,  the  true  strike  is  W.  31°  S., 
and  the  dip  southerly,  at  a  very  high  angle,  varying  from 
72°  on  the  Metgermette  to  85°,  or  nearly  perpendicular, 
on  the  Riviere  du  Loup.  The  slates  appear  ir  '■les  in 
many  places  on  the  Metgermette,  the  Iliviere  du  Loup, 
and  on  a  mill  creek  (lot  :^1,  and  the  rear  lot  on  the  bth 
range  of  Jersey)  at  an  altitude  of  about  400  feet  above 
the  main  stream.  They  are  also  seen  to  crop  out  in  the 
ploughed  fields  on  the  east  side  of  the  Du  Loup,  some 
60  feet  above  the  river,  and  they  were  met  with  about 
15  feet  below  the  drift  on  the  Kennebec  road,  close  to 
Ray's  house,  when  sinking  a  well. 

Reefs  of  these  slates  frequently  cross  the  main  river 
and  its  tributaries,  forming  rapids.  They  are  often 
worn  into  pot-holes  on  its  banks,  and  smoothed  by  ice 
and  running  water.  Sometimes  they  present  a  banded 
or  ribboned  appearance,  and  occasionally  a  smooth  red- 
dish surface  and  an  arenaceous  composition.  Some  of 
the  layers  split  into  large  thin  slabs,  which  would  fit 
them  for  roofing  purposes.  When  exposed  to  the  action 
of  air  and  running  water  they  occasionally  become  very 
fissile  and  easily  break  up  into  thin  lamimr,  wearing 
down  and  disintegrating  rapidly.  Other  bands,  again, 
aie  hard  and  very  persistent,  weathering  red  when 
exposed  to  running  water,  and  are  slightly  arenaceous, 


lURES. 


ATES. 


i  within  the  limits  of 

sihirian  clay  slates. 

letic,  but  the  varia- 

5trike  is  W.  31°  S., 

angle,  varying  from 

early  perpendicular, 

?s  appear  in  -'les  in 

16  Iliviere  du  Loup, 

!  rear  lot  on  the  Hth 

ibont  400  feet  above 

m  to  crop  out  in  the 

the  Du  Loup,  some 

ere  met  with  about 

lebec  road,  close  to 

ross  the  main  river 
i.  They  are  often 
md  smoothed  by  ice 
ey  present  a  banded 
onally  a  smooth  red- 
nposition.  Some  of 
lbs,  which  would  fit 
exposed  to  the  action 
iionally  become  very 
lin  lamina%  wearing 
Other  bands,  again, 
lathering  red  when 
slightly  arenaceous, 


15 

Approaching  the  character  of  argillaceous  sandstones. 
On  breaking  or  splitting  a  slab,  cubical  crystals  of  iron 
l)yritcs  are  frequently  met  with,  and  sometimes  a  slab 
several  feet  square  will  be  found  to  be  studded  with 
perfect  cubes  of  this  mineral. 

h.       QUARTZ     VEIN'S. 

The  slates  are  intersected  by   three  sets   of  quartz 
veins  which  may  be  briefly  described  as  follows  : 

1.  The  main  or  largest  and  older  veins,  runnino- 
generally  wiih  the  strikes  of  the  slates,  and  often 
assuming  the  form  of  a  bedded  rock,  but  occasionally 
enlarging  into  bunches.  These  are  highly  crystalline, 
and  composed,  towards  the  centre,  of  white  quartz, 
containing  cavities  lined  with  quartz  crystals.  The 
outer  portions  of  the  veins,  which  are  from  6  inches  to 
20  inches  in  diameter,  are  frequently  colored  with  the 
peroxide  of  iron,  and  the  cavities  Avhich  occur  in  them 
ure  often  filled  with  decomposing  iron  pyrites  ;  some- 
times with  crystallized  carbonate  of  lime,  and  sometimes 
with  chlorite. 

Where  the  veins  expand  into  bunches  they  are  gene- 
rally highly  colored  with  the  peroxide,  and  are  easily 
l)roken  into  small  fragments  by  the  blows  of  a  hammer. 
The  internal  white  portion  is,  however,  very  hard,  and 
not  unfrequently  solid. 

2d.     The   Ohliqiip    r^ius. 

When  the  slates  crop  out  in  the  bed  of  the  river 
they  are  sometimes  seen  to  be  capped  with  quartz, 
which  sends  numerous  ramifications  in  all   direction? 


16 


downwards  and  laterally.  An  exposed  reef  of  slates 
dipping  at  an  angle  of  80°,  was  found  to  be  intersected 
by  veins  cutting  them  at  an  angle  of  56°  N.  E.  Six 
such  veins  forming  thin  sheets  of  quart/,  and  having  u 
gently  undulating  course,  were  observed  in  an  exposure 
of  five  feet  in  perpendicular  altitude,  and  in  a  horizon- 
tal distance  of  eight  feet  some  of  them  would  thin  out 
from  2  inches  in  thickness,  from  their  exposure,  to  two 
lines  ;  others  would  pursue  an  undulating  course  and 
join  with  a  vein  above  or  below  them.  These  oblique 
veins  appear  to  be  associated  with  the  main  veins  which 
generally  run  in  the  direction  of  the  strike  of  the  slates. 
Persons  are  liable  to  be  much  deceived  by  these  oblique 
veins,  as  they  often  expose  a  broad  surface  in  the  river, 
and  .^eem  to  belong  to  the  system  first  described  ; 
whereas  none  were  found  \>f  a  greater  thickness  than 
two  or  three  inches.  Tliey  may  be  associated  with 
them,  aud  consist  of  their  ramifications,  but  sufficient 
details  respecting  their  relationship  has  not  yet  been 
obtained  to  admit  of  the  expression  of  a  positive  opin- 
ion respecting  them. 


3(/.    The  Newest    Veins. 

Cutting  through  the  main  veins,  which  run  with  the 
strike,  either  at  right  angles  to  them  or  obliquely,  are  a 
multitude  of  small  and  continuous  veins  of  quartz, 
whicli  are  of  more  recent  origin  than  eitlier  of  the  two 
systems  described.  They  cut  straight  through  the  older 
veins  of  two  inches  and  more  in  diameter,  but  none 
were  observed  of  a  greater  thickness  than  one  inch,  and 
by  far  the  greater  number  were  from  half  an  inch  to  a 
line  or  less  in  diameter ;  they  also  appeared  to  form  this 


17 


ied  reef  of  slates 
to  be  intersected 
•  55°  N.  E.  Six 
'tz,  and  having  a 
pd  in  an  exposure 
uid  in  a  liorizon- 
n  would  thin  out 
exposure,  to  two 
ating  course  and 
I.  These  oblique 
main  veins  which 
I'ike  of  the  slates. 
}  by  these  oblique 
rface  in  the  river, 
first  described  ; 
cv  thickness  than 
;  associated  with 
)ns,  but  sufficient 
has  not  yet  been 
f  a  positive  opin- 


.'liich  run  with  the 

3r  obliquely,  are  a 

veins    of  quartz, 

either  of  the  two 

through  the  older 

lanieter,  but  none 

ban  one  inch,  and 

half  an  inch  to  a 

(cared  to  form  this 


sheet  of  unknown  breadth,  and  were  generally  found  to 
be  free  from  foreign  materials,  and  to  consist  of  quartz 
alone.  In  a  few  instances,  small  crystals  and  specks  of 
iron  pyrites  were  discovered  in  tliern  ;  they  wore  seen  at 
a  distance  from  the  main  or  older  veins  as  well  as  near 
to  and  intersectiii<;  them. 

'■.        ITll.    llOtT.DKHS    IX    THK    niVF.K. 

By  f;ir  tlie  largest  ntunber  of  the  boulders  in  the  bed 
of  the  J)u  Loup  are  of  local  origin,  and  consist  of  the 
upper  Silurian  clay  slates.    There  are,  however,  occasion- 
ally seen  boulders  partaking  of  the  nature  of  a  conirlom- 
ei-ate,  holding  pebbles  of  slate,  l)lack  in  color  and  of 
very  even  fracture.     A  fine  quartz-like  conglomerate  is 
also  met  witli,  as  well  as  fragments  of  serpentine.    Both 
of  these  conglomerates  were  observed  in  place  in  the 
rear  of  the  Montreal  House  in  the  village  of  St.  Francis, 
about  twenty-four  miles    north  of  the  spot  where  the 
boulders  were  seen  in  the  bed  of  the  du  Loup  ;  the  same 
rocks,  which  belong  to  the    Quebec  group,  were  also 
observed  in  the  banks  of  the  river  opposite  the  Montreal 
House.     .\  few  boulders  of  syenite  gneiss  and  epidosite 
"ere    also    recognized   associated   with    those    already 
(l"scribed.     These  facts  show  that  drift,  not  only  from 
the  Quebec  group  of  rocks,  w  hich  is  known  to  be  aurif- 
erous, has  come  from  the  north,  and  been  distributed 
over  the  valley  of  the  du  Loup,  but  also  boulders  from 
the    Laurentian   series  which  lies  to  the  north  of  the 
river  St.  Lawrence,  distant  some  sixty  miles  in  an  air 
line.     Fragments  and  rough  masses  of  quartz  are  also 
very  numerous  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  ;  these  may  be, 
3 


18 

iuid   probably   are,  in   the  majority   of  cases,  of  local 
origin,  beinj,'  (Icrivod  from  the  (luart/  veins  in  the  im- 
mediate neii^hborhdod,  or  at  least  orii,nnating  from  the 
upper  Silurian  day  slates  ;  but.  since  boulders  derived 
from  the   Quebec   group    (lower  silurian),    have  been 
ulreadv  stated  to  occur  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  and 
because  qnart/  veins  are  known  to  intersect  the  rocks 
of  the  Quebec  group  in  tlie  parish  of  vSt.  Francis,  24 
miles  north,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  some  of  the 
,puutz  fragments  may  be  derived  from  that  source.    The 
imi)ortance  of   this  supposition  will    appear  when  the 
source  or  origin  of  the  gold  in  the  valley  of  the  lliviere 
du  Loup  is  discussed. 

d.       TIIK    nUIFT    CLAYS,    OUAVKLS    AND    SANDS. 

The  valleys  of  the  Kiviere  du  Loup  and  its  tributaries 
are  covered"  with  drift  clays,  gravels  and  sands,  which 
may  be  separated  into  two  divisions,  the  glacial  drift 
and  the  remodelled  drift.     The  alhivial  fiats  on  the  river 
banks  are  derived  from   these   older  deposits  and  the 
wearing  away  of  the  rocks  in  the  beds  of  the  streams. 
The  glacial  drift  is  represented  by  the  unstratified 
blue  clay  with  its  associated  lioulders  of  northern  origin. 
This  drift  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  stratified 
blue  clay  which  is  occasionally  found  in  the  bed  and  on 
the  alluvial  banks  of  the  Riviere  du  Loup,  and  lias  been 
produced  by  tlie  re-arrangement  of  the  materials  of  the 
older   drift.     The    glacial   drift   is  capped   by  beds  of 
gravel,  gravell.  clay  and  stratified  sand,  and  constitutes 
the  remodelled  drift.     Fine  and  coarse  sand  beautifully 
stratified  was  found  forming  mounds  on  the  east  side  of 


19 


es,  of  local 
is  in  the  im- 
ng  fro  til  the 
ilcrs  derived 
,    have  been 
stroain,  and 
>ct  tlie  rocks 
,  Francis,  24 
some  of  the 
source.    The 
ar  when  the 
f  tlic  llivicre 


VNOS. 

its  tribntaries 
sands,  which 
!  glacial  drift 
ts  on  the  river 
osits  and  the 
■  the  streams, 
le   unstratified 
n-thern  origin, 
the  stratified, 
he  bed  and  on 
,  and  lias  been 
laterials  of  the 
L>d   by  bods  of 
and  constitutes 
and  beautifully 
the  east  side  of 


the  Riviere  du  Loup  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above 
its  present  level,  or  upwards  of  1,000  feet  above  the 
sea.  The  underlying  blue  clays  and  the  newer  over- 
lying yellowish  gravelly  clays  contain  numerous  frag- 
ments of  quartz,  both  worn  and  unworn.  While  the 
greatest  thickness  of  the  drift  observed  in  the  immediate 
valley  of  the  river  was  about  sixty  feet,  it  is  probable 
that  its  deptli  does  not  on  an  average  exceed  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  on  t]»e  plateaux  and  hillsides  east  and  west 
of  these  well  marked  limits  of  the  ancient  river  valley. 
The  upper  silurian  slates  appear  to  have  contributed 
the  largest  portion  of  material  to  the  drift  of  both 
deposits,  the  agents  which  produced  them  being  proba- 
bly ice  in  tlie  one  case,  water  in  the  other,  thus  giving 
rise  to  the  difference  in  their  composition  and  general 
character.  Tlie  blue  clay  is  excessively  tenacious,  and 
consists  of  very  fine  materials  mixed  with  boulders,  peb- 
bles and  fragments  of  foreign  and  local  rocks,  —  much 
fine  mica,  iron  pyrites  and  black  sand  in  fine  particles. 
'J'he  fine  nuid  may  have  been  produced  by  the  grinding 
process  of  glacial  ice,  which  agent  was  also  instrumental 
in  bringing  the  rock  fragments  of  northern  origin  to 
their  present  position.  The  upper  or  remodelled  drift 
was  probably  produced  in  part  from  the  wearing  away 
of  the  slates  occupying  the  higher  portions  of  the  coun- 
try, and  the  introduction  of  foreign  material  by  the 
action  of  water,  fioating  ice  and  suba'rial  denudation. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  nature  of  the  forces  which 
produced  these  different  drift  deposits,  it  is  enough  for 
present  purposes  to  know  tlint  both  contain  not  only 
materials  of  local  origin  but  also  a  considerable  propor- 


20 

tion  of  foreign  detritus  of  northern  origin,  and  suscepti- 
ble of  being  identified  with  rocks  in  position  lying  from 
24  to  60  or  70  miles  north  of  the  area  where  they  are 
now  found. 


il 


II 


III.     THE  GOLD  OF  THE  RIVEll  DU  LOUP  AiND  ITS 
TRIBUTARIF.S. 

Before  proceeding  to  discuss  the  origin  of  the  gold 
which  is  found  in  the  area  lo  which  this  report  reftrs, 
it  will  be  convenient  to  describe  a  number  of  experi- 
mental trials  which  were  made  during  the  first  and 
second  week  of  June  of  the  present  year  under  the  eye 
of  the  writer,  for  the  express  purpose  of  ascertaining 
the  auriferous,  or  non-auriferous,  character  of  the  rocks 
in  position,  as  well  as  of  the  overlying  drift. 

a.       TIIK    METGERMEITE. 

No.  1,  June  4th.  Panned  drift  taken  from  ten  feet 
above  the  river,  found  fine  gold  and  scales,  with  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  black  sand. 

No.  2.  Found  gold  in  fine  particles  in  the  sand  and 
gravel  of  the  stream. 

No.  3.  Made  several  trials  of  the  gravel  between 
the  slates  which  form  reefs  across  the  Metgermette, 
and,  in  every  instance,  found  gold,  estimated  to  the  pan 
to  be  worth  from  one  dollar  downwards. 

The  larger  fragments,  or  coarse  gold,  was  generally 
found  in  the  crevices  between  the  slates  and  the  gravel 
taken  from  them.  [The  specimens  are  in  the  possession 
of  Mr.  Ward,  or  other  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  Com- 


21 


I  snsccpti- 
Ivins  from 
'  they  are 


IND  ITS 

f  the  gold 
ort  reffrs, 
of  experi- 
(  first  and 
Icr  the  eye 
sccrtainmg 
■  the  rocks 


m  ten  feet 
ivith  a  con- 

e  sand  and 

si  betuoen 
stgermette, 
to  the  pan 

j  generally 
the  gravel 
possession 

0  the  Com- 


mittee, with  the  exception  of  one  set  which  are  in  the 
possession  of  the  writer,  for  the  purpose  of  estimating 
roughly  the  auriferous  value  of  the  npper  drift.  'I'his 
will  be  noticed  subsequently.] 


RIVIERE     PIT      roup. 


June  fi.  No.  4.  Pounded  some  quartz  taken  from  a 
vein  on  the  Riviere  du  Loup,  and  found  in  it  seven 
small  pieces  of  gold.  Five  of  these  were  very  slightly 
rounded  at  the  edges,  the  other  two  were  filiform 
masses  ;  long,  unworn  and  jagged. 

No.  5.  Crushed  some  quartz  taken  by  the  writer 
from  the  vein  on  the  l)u  Loup  opposite  Hay's  house. 
Washed  the  quartz  before  pounding  to  remove  any 
adhering  clay.  The  cracked  mass  of  (luartz  yielded 
three  unworn  pointed  or  jagged  scales. 

The  quartz  in  both  instances  was  crushed  with  a 
hammer  on  a  flat  stone  previously  cleaned,  and  the 
quantity  operated  on  was  about  15  pounds  in  weight, 
rather  under  than  over. 

No.  6.  Pulled  up  by  the  roots  a  pan  full  of  grass 
growing  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  found  in  the 
washings  two  small  pieces  of  pounded  gold. 


THE    UPPER    DRIFT. 


Took  three  bushels  of  sand  and  gravel  from  the 
upper  drift  near  the  edge  of  the  No.  1  Plateau  on  the 
Du  Loup,  about  120  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river. 
The  earth  was  washed  in  ten  pans,  successively,  and 
yielded  as  follows : 


22 


No.  7.  Pan  No.  I.  One  scale  of  yellow  f^old,  not 
water  worn  ;  also  fine  gold. 

Pan  No.  '2.     Fine  particles  of  gold. 

Pan  No.  ;].  Three  scales  two-tenths  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  slightly  water-worn,  and  one  scale  one-tenth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  not  water-worn. 

Pan  No.  4.     Yielded  no  visible  gold. 

Pan  No.  o.     Two  scales. 

Pan  No.  ().  Yielded  seven  scales  fro.i!  two-tenths  lo 
one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 

Pan  No.  7.     Fine  gold. 

Pan  No.  8.  Several  scales  and  one  Avater-worn  frag- 
ment three-eighths  of  au  inch  in  length,  and  a  line  and 
a  half  in  diameter,  —  dark  yellow  geld. 

Pan  No.  9      One  scale  >['  bright  yellow  gold. 

Pan  No.  10.  Two  small  water-worn  nnggets,  ot 
dark-yellow  gold,  wortli  25  cents  each  ;  also,  small 
scales  of  the  bright  yellow  gold.  {N.  B.  The  bright 
yellow,  unworn  and  jagged  gold  is  supposed  to  come 
from  the  denuded  quartz  veins  in  position  on  the  ]3u 
Loup,  —  the  darker  colored  and  worn  gold  from  a 
northern  source. 

The  gravel  washed  from  the  sand  and  clay  contained 
numerous  fragments  of  quartz,  generally  jagged  and 
unworn,  but  some  worn  pebbles  and  small  masses  of 
quartz  were  scv  n.  It  also  contained  fragments,  sharp- 
edged,  of  local  slate  and  much  black  sand.  The  bright 
yellow  or  pale  gold  occurred  in  the  form  of  unworn 
scales,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  in  the  form  of  fine 
threads,  also  unworn,  as  seen  through  a  good  magnify- 
ing glass.     The  darker  colored  gold  was  always  rounded 


1/8 

or  watiT-woni.  'Vhv  liolo  from  whicii  the  sand  and 
gravel  was  taken,  was  abont  tliice  feet  deep,  apparently 
unstrafitied,  and  was  capped  by  ten  inehes  of  loam  and 
deeajinH;  leaves      Tl,e  whole  platean  is  densely  wooded. 

No.  >"<.  Tanned  on  a  stream  in  the  rear  of  lot  ;J1,  in 
the  Nth  range  of  Jersey,  at  an  elevation  of  al)ont  400 
foot  above  the  J)n  J^onj),  and  abont  one  mile  and  three 
([narters  west  of  the  river.  Konnd  the  slates  in  place, 
intersected  with  heavy  (pnutz  veins  rnnning  with  the 
strike.  Koinul  Hake  f>;o]d,  (l.irk  colored,  well  water 
worn. 

No.  !).  Panned  one  pan  of  gravel  in  the  same  stream 
nt  the  extremity  of  lot  81,  on  the  line  of  the  8th  range 
of  .lersey,  estimated  to  be  '2:A)  feet  above  the  Dn  Lonp, 
or  1,1.')0  abo\e  the  sea.  This  jian  yielded  one  ronnded 
or  water-worn  scale  1.^  lines  in  diameter. 

No.  10.  A  second  ])an  from  the  clays  in  the  same 
locality,  taken  clo.se  to  the  water's  edge,  gave  no  visible 
gold. 


'/.       Till',    MKTOEHMF.TTE — WITH    THE    CHAPI.E. 

June  7.  No.  11.  Cradled  on  the  Metgermctte,  just 
al)Ove  the  bridge  on  the  Kennebec  road.  Took  gravel 
and  cliiy  from  the  crevices  between  the  slates.  Two 
cradlings  gave  successively  a  considerable  qnantity  of 
very  fine  gold,  and  nnmerons  scales  ;  this  "  prospect  " 
was  considered  by  two  experienced  Californian  miners, 
and  one  Australian  miner,  who  assisted  in  or  witnessed 
the  operations,  but  who  had  no  interest  in  the  results, 
to  be  "  excellent  pay."  The  cradle  produced  a  large 
quantity  of  black  sand,  and  with  it  there  was  minsled 


•24 

nuifh    title    gold,    which    could    not    he    separated    by 
panning. 

No.  IV.  Cradled  ahont  !.')()  yards  ahovc  the  hridgc 
on  the  Kennehee  road.  The  result  gave  one  small  water- 
worn  fragment  of  gold,  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
fine  gold  and  much  black  sand.  The  nugget  was  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  'M)  cents. 


cHAin.ixd  ON  Till,   itivKU  nr   i.oii'. 


No.  \'i.  Excavated  a  new  hole  on  the  plateau  oppo- 
site Ray's  house,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  about  I'iO 
feet  above  it,  and  about  five  yards  from  the  excavation 
made  on  the  previous  day.  Found  a  hard  gravelly  pan 
eighteen  inches  below  the  surface ;  ciu-ried  the  clay 
and  gravel  down  to  the  river.  The  cradle  produced 
numerous  scales  of  gold  from  half  a  line  to  a  line  in 
diameter,  pale  colored  and  bright.  The  (piantity  of 
earth  cradled  was  about  four  bushels.  A  considerable 
quantity  of  gold  in  very  fine  particles  remained  in  the 
black  sand,  which  is  in  the  possessioii  of  ^Ir.  Ward 

No.  14.  Excavated  a  hole  half  way  down  the  escarp- 
ment or  cliff  about  (iO  feet  above  the  river ;  panned  and 
found  in  two  puns  imworn  gold  in  ragged,  bright  yellow 
scales,  and  very  fine  gold  in  the  black  sand. 

June  8th.  No.  15.  Visited  the  Portage  river,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Du  Loup  and  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  area  specially  described  in  this  report.  At  a  house 
near  the  bridge,  about  50  feet  above  the  Portage, 
observed  a  quantity  of  clay  thrown  out  in  excavating  a 
cellar ;  panned  a  portion  of  the  clay  and  found  "  the 
color." 


No.  1().  I'aiiiird  on  the  Portiifro,  niso  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  iwax  muh-r  review.  The  first  pan  yielded 
two  scales  ;  one  a  line  lon-r.  the  other  a  third  of  a  line. 
The  gold  was  of  the  l.nle  hri<.ht  yellow  variety,  not 
much  water-worn.     The  second  pun  gave  "  the  color." 

No.  17.  Tannetl  at  the  southeastern  extremity  of  the 
area  under  review,  from  blue  gravelly  clay,  seven  feet 
above  the  J)u  Loup  at  its  present  stage;  found  a  water- 
worn  flat  nugget  of  dark-colored  gold,  three  linos  long 
and  one  and  a  half  in  diameter. 

No.  IS.  At  the  same  locality. .)()  feet  above  the  river, 
panned  a  yellowish  !)rown  gravelly  day,  lying  almve  the 
bluish  clay.  At  one  and  a  half  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  alluvial  plateau  found  a  small  water-worn  nugget 
of  the  dark  colored  variety,  estimated  to  )>e  vorth  75 
cents. 

No.  19.  A  second  pan  from  the  same  gravelly  clay 
yielded  a  water-worn  dark  yellow  and  round  particle  a 
line  in  diameter. 

No.  20.  A  third  pan  taken  from  just  beneath  the 
vegetable  mould  giive  several  small  specks  and  fine  gold 
of  the  bright  yellow  variety.* 

The  gravelly  clay  here  (oO  feet  above  the  ])n  Loup) 
contains  numerous  fragments  of  quartz  and  many  peb- 
bles of  slate,  and  unworn  masses  of  local  origin. 

*The  reader  will  understand  that  the  terms  "bright  yellow  vari- 
ety," and  "  dark-colorr'd  gold"  are  used  to  distinguish  one  variety  of 
gold  from  another ;  but  the  real  difference  in  color  is  very  trifling.  It 
will  be  shown  that  the  "  pale  unworn  gold"  is  of  local  origin,  and  the 
"dark-colored  gold"  has  travelled  from  the  north,  — an  important 
distinction,  as  it  reveals  the  existence  of  two  gold  fields  overlapping 
one  another. 


26 

.luiR'  !>.  Sfvriiil  iucinl)t'r.s  of  the  Comiuittec  panned 
clay  and  i;iavel  iVoni  the  Met<,'erinette  and  the  Kivieie 
])u  Loup  with  favoiahle  residts  ;  but,  as  the  writer  was 
not  an  eyewitness,  it  is  unuceessary  to  make  any  further 
allusion  to  these  experimental  trials  in  this  report. 

No.  '21.  With  the  assistance  of  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Committee  (Mr.  French),  the  writer  jjounded 
some  (piart/.  brought  up  from  the  vein  iu  place  opposite 
Kay's  house  on  the  J)u  Loup.  'I'he  (juartz  was  crushed 
on  a  slab  of  slate  which  hail  been  previously  cleaned. 
About  a  (juart  of  the  partially  crushed  (piart/  was 
])anned,  and  yielded  nuuierous  particles  and  scales  of 
gold,  of  the  pale  variety  ;  some  of  the  i)articles  were 
filiform  and  not  perceptibly  worn,  when  viewed  through 
a  i)0werful  magnifying  glass.  The  scales  were  in  some 
instances  three-ipuirters  of  a  line  in  length  and  with 
jagged  edges.     There  was  also  some  fine  gold  present. 

No.  2'i,  A  pan  of  "dirt"  taken  from  between  the 
three  branches  of  the  quartz  vein  exposed  on  the  J)n 
Loup  opposite  Kay's  house,  gave  several  particles  of 
unworn  gold  with  jagged  edges,  and  some  particles  of 
apparently  slightly  worn  gold. 

No.  2'J  completes  the  series  of  trials  made  under  the 
inspection  of  the  writer.  A  nugget  which  had  been 
taken  from  the  bed  of  the  llivierc  du  Loup  opposite 
Ray's  house,  was  shown  to  the  writer;  also  miggets 
recently  taken  by  working  miners  on  the  Gilbert  river. 
The  value  of  these  nuggets  was  from  ten  to  fifteen 
dollars  each. 


IV. 


27 


ESTIMATE  OF  THE   VALUE  OF   THE    DRIFT.  BASED 
OX  EXPERIMENT  Xu.  7. 


The  wc'ffht  of  the  ij:old  obtained  from  three  bushels 
of  fj;r<ivelly  ehiy  on  the  summit  of  the  plateau,  I'iO  feet 
nhove  the  river,  oj)posite  Hay's  house,  was  ll.V  grains; 
tliis  is  equal  to  three  and  eighty-three  hundredths  of  a 
grain  to  the  bushel.  ^Ir.  W.  P.  IJlake,  in  a  report  on 
the  gold  mines  of  (Georgia*  states  that  earth  containing 
one  twenty-fiftli  of  a  grain  of  gold  to  the  bushel,  can  be 
])rotitably  worked  l)y  the  hydraulic  method.  Assuming 
that  each  bashel  of  earth  yields  on  the  ])lateau  of  the 
J)u  I,()up  three  grains  of  gold,  instead  of  'i^y^,  it  will 
be  seventy-five  times  richer  than  the  earth  which  can  be 
profitably  worked  by  tlie  liydraulic  method;  labor  and 
])rovisious  being  considered  equal  in  both  cases.  Hence 
it  will  api)ear  that  with  every  allowance  for  want  of 
uniformityt  in  the  distril)ution  of  the  gold  throughout 
the  drift,  which  may  be  greater  or  less  in  <pumtity  than 
the  experimental  trial  showed,  there  is  a  wide  margin 
to  be  allowed,  before  the  value  of  the  drift  would  sink 
to  the  scale  of  nunc  "  i)rofitable  workings."' 


V.     OMIGIX  OF  THE  GOLD. 

The  experiments  which  have  been  described  sh  )w 
that  the  ([uartz  veins  of  the  upper  silurian  clay  slates 
on  the  Du  Loup  are  auriferous.      Indeed,  a  small   mass 

*Si'L'  "Geology  of  CuuaUi,"  Sir  \V.  E.  Ligaii,  Direitor.  pages  TJMt 
to  7  I J. 

t  Oil  the  'I'oufFe  des  Pins,  sixty  buslicls  of  gravel  from  (he  hml  of 
tiio  Htroaiu,  give  7i  grains  of  gold  to  tiie  bushel.  G^'ology  of  Canaila, 
180.1. 


28 


of  quartz,  said  to  have  been  obtained  from  the  quartz 
vein  on  the  Du  I>oup  opposite  Ray's  house,  was  seen  by 
the  writer,  and,  in  a  eavity,  a  particle  of  gokl  was  dis- 
tinctly visible  with  the  naked  eye,  occupying  its  lower 
extremity,  and  into  which  it  could  not  have  been 
placed  by  artificial  means.  The  gentleman  who  pro- 
cured the  fragment  of  quartz,  a  few  days  before  the 
arrival  of  the  writer  on  the  spot,  is  worthy  of  the 
utmost  confidence.  Nevertheless,  although  a  careful 
inspection  was  made  of  a  large  number  of  fragments 
broken  from  the  veins  of  quartz  on  the  area  in  question 
no  gold  was  seen  in  the  quartz  ;  but  the  results  of  the 
crushing  process  described  are  sufficient  to  convince  the 
writer,  without  any  other  testimony,  that  the  quartz 
veins  in  the  u[)per  silurian  slates  exposed  on  the  lvivl:re 
du  Loup  are  auriferous.  It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind 
that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  detect  gold  in  auriferous 
quartz  of  known  value  ;  and,  although  the  quartz  veins 
in  Nova  Scotia  arc  worked  at  a  large  profit,  it  is  a  rare 
occurrence  for  gold  to  be  seen  in  place. 

Thfrt'  is,  moreover,  the  evidence  of  SirW.  I-ogan, 
the  director  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Canada,  that 
gold  exists  in  the  quartz  veins  of  the  upper  silurian 
slates.  "  Native  gold,"  he  says,  '•  has,  however,  been 
found  in  small  grains  with  galena,  blende,  and  pyrites, 
in  a  well-defined  quartz  vein,  cutting  slates  which  are 
su[)posed  to  be  of  upper  silurian  age,  at  the  rapids  of 
St.  Francis  on  the  Chaudiere.*  "  (Page  .5 18-5*20  Geol- 
ogy of  Canada,  liSli:].) 

*  'In  18()2,  another  (nuiit/  vein  was  opcnod  about  100  yards  from 
the  last,  and  has  yielded  tine  specimens  ol"  native  gold,  associated  with 
arsenical  pyrites."     Si  e  i.lsu  Kepcrt  for  1863.  page.s  70  to  73. 


29 

The  scales  of  gold  of  the  bright  pale  yellow  variety 
found  everywhere  in  the  drift  on  the  l)u  J.onp  and  the 
Mctgormette,  both  near  and  remote  from  those  rivers, 
arc    considered   by   the    writer   to   originate   from  the 
decomposed  and  decomposing  ruins  of  the  quartz  veins, 
which  penetrate  the  upper  silurian  slates,  and  are  con- 
sequently of  local  origin.     It  is  not  intended  to  assert 
that  all  the  gold  belonging  to  the  pale  variety  is  derived 
from  local  rocks  above,  below,  or  even  some  distance 
from  the  place  where  the  gold  is  found.     It  is  probable 
that  some  portion  may  be  derived  from  the  travelled 
quartz  fragments,  some  of  which  have  come  with  the 
northern  drift  from  the  Quebec  group  of  rocks,  which 
lie  to  the  north  tf  the  upper  silurian  slates  below  the 
St.  Francis   Eapids  on  the  Chaudiere.     It  is  thought, 
also,  that  the  dark  colored  gold,  which  is  always  rounded 
by  attrition,  has  in  great  part  come  from  the  north,  and 
that  the   quartz  veins   of  the   Quebec  group   were  its 
original  seat.     This  view  suggests  an  important  conclu- 
sion, namely,  that  the  auriferous  drift  clays  and  gravels 
of  the  Riviere  Du  Loup  really  enclose  the  products  of 
two  distinct   series    of  gold-bearing   rocks,   the    upper 
silurian  slates  and  the  lower  silurian  schists,  represented 
on  the  Chaudiere,  north  of  a  few  miles  above  the  Guil- 
laume  river,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Francis,  by  the  Quebec 
group.     It  has  been  stated  in  the  section  describing  the 
drift  clays  and  gravels  of  this   area,  that  boulders   of 
northern  origin  are  not  uncommon,  and  the  same  agent 
which  brought  these  boulders,  nameh',  glacial  ice,  would 
also  convey  the  material  of  broken  down  quartz  veins, 
belonging  to   the  rocks   north   of   the    upper   silurian 
slates. 


30 


VI.     THK  BLACK  SAND. 


Every  washing  showed  the  existence  of  ii  considerable 
quantity  of  bhxck  sand  in  tlie  gravels,  chiys,  and  alluvial 
deposits.  A  magnet  passed  tluougli  the  black  sand, 
shows  the  presence  of  a  considerable  quantity  of  mag- 
netic oxide  of  iron.  Dr.  Hunt,  of  the  Geological  Sur- 
vey of  Canada  has  at  different  times  examined  this 
black  sand  and  found  it  to  consist  of  magnetic  iron  ; 
hematite,  botli  specular  and  compact,  chromic  iron  and 
ilmenite,  with  occasional  grains  of  garnet  rutile,  and 
more  rarely  zircon  and  corundum.  Portions  of  native 
platinum  and  iridosmine  have  also  been  obtained.  It 
is  very  difficult  by  the  ordinary  [)rocess  of  washing  to 
separate  the  fine  gold  from  the  black  sand,  and  in  exten- 
sive works  for  the  extraction  of  the  gold  from  the  drift, 
the  black  sand  should  alwavs  be  saved. 


VII.     CONX'IA'SION. 

The  opinion  which  the  writer  is  now  enabled  to 
express  respecting  the  commercial  value  of  the  area 
described  in  this  report  as  a  gold-yielding  tract  of  coun- 
try, is  very  favorable.  So  many  conditions  appear  to 
unite  in  conferring  on  it  advantages  rarely  met  with  in 
auriferous  districts,  that  no  doubt  can  be  entertained 
respecting  the  commercial  success  of  properly  conducted 
works  for  the  separation  of  the  goW  It  may  be  advis- 
able to  specify  these  advantages  with  some  detail. 
They  are, 

1.  Tlie  •niiform  distribution  of  the  gold  in  the  drift 
clays  and  gravels  in  the  valleys  and  or.  the  uplands. 


31 


2.  The  occurrence  of  rapid  streams  with  ahundance 
of  water  for  shiicin^'.  thiining.  or  power  throughout  the 
entire  area  under  jcvicw. 

3.  'J'he  existence  of  numerous  quartz  veins  which 
have  heen  shown  to  he  auriferous,  and  which  can  he 
worked  during  the  entire  year. 

4.  Tlie  comparative  shallowness  of  the  drift  on  the 
uplands  which  will  admit  of  the  clay  slates  being 
easily  reached,  where  the  coarse  or  heavy  gold  will 
most  probably  be   found  in  the  tissurcs  of  the   slates 

exposed. 

5.  The  facility  with  which  the  Metgcrmette,  the 
small  streams  flowing  into  the  Riviere  du  Loup  and  the 
Uu  Loup  itself  can  l)e  diverted  from  their  channels,  and 
the  present  beds  of  these  rivers  exposed  and  worked, 
'jhe  beds  of  these  rivers  may  be  regarded  as  sluices  on 
a  gigantic  scale  which  have  been  engaged  in  the  opera- 
tion of  separating  the  gold  from  the  drift  for  ages,  and 
which  have  treasured  up  the  products  of  their  labor  in 
the  beds  where  they  now  flow,  the  gold  being  caught 
by  the  numerous  reefs  of  slates  which  stretch  across 
the  river,  and  is  thus  protected  from  the  weaving  action 

of  attrition. 

HENRY  Y.  HIND. 

Quebec.  June  115,   1864. 


32 


K  X  T  R  A  O  T 


From  a  spefch  of  I/is   Exrclli'nri/,   (he    Governor  General  of  Canada, 
June  80,  lHG-1,  delivered  at  the  Proroyatton  of  Parliament. 


The  discoveries  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals, 
within  our  territory,  have  rendered  necessary  new  regu- 
hjtions  in  reference  to  the  management  of  that  part  of 
the  pubHc  property,  and  I  confidently  expect  that  the 
enactments  of  the  Gold  Mining  Bill  of  this  session  will 
be  found  effectual  for  the  protection  of  the  Revenue, 
and  will  stimulate  the  development  ')f  this  important 
branch  of  the  Provincial  resources. 


k  ~j£^ 


"^ 


